Writer's Block: How to Get Away From It?

Writers are not perfect and there are some challenges in the process of finishing a creative output. Either searching for a scene or finding the right pitch, when you get a sudden writer's block, it seems difficult to get away from it.

Even though you may think that you are nowhere near any productive output, and stuck with a very clean sheet of paper. Pause. Then write.

During my university years, there was this professor who made the class write anything in two minutes. No tricks needed. No grammar checks. Only follow a simple rule: write any word or phrase that you can, and don't try to make a complete sentence.

This activity may sound trivial at first, however, when you look at the list of words you've written after the time, you will be surprise to find new inspiration for your writing. Many writers can get inspired in a variety of ways. An image, person, word, drop of water, color, almost anything can inspire you to write. You just simply have to start.

Maybe after hours of working on a story, you are already feeling exhausted and think that all your creative juices have been squeezed out. Just relax and take a break. This is the time that you need to refresh.

Do some of these exercises:

1. Do some stretching. Don't stare at the computer screen.
2. Slowly breathe in and out. Count to at least 10.
3. Stand, walk across the room for a minute. Stretch.
4. Look outside the window and find some inspiration.
5. Walk along the street for five minutes.

Go back to work. Write or type anything that you remember. You will get the chance to have new ideas ahead.

This time you might have some words, sentences, or even paragraphs that you've written. Read back to them and see means to improve them. Whenever someone experiences having a writer's block it is good to exercise by rechecking and revising the ones that are already done.

This task may be tedious at times, but it is a process that writers' should not skip. It is the time where you reflect on the ones you've written. There is even a reminder that I received from my university adviser that I have repeatedly tried to be part of my habit: The first thing you write or think about is not good. Because most of the time it would be a cliché or expected. Go back to it and revise. Follow the write, revise, re-write, revise more, and finalize process. You might be surprise with the result.

You can try to work on more than one project at a time. This might sound crazy because you are actually trying to get yourself to focus. This move can actually help you in mapping out your ideas. There is some instances when writer's block is because you actually have too many ideas bursting out of your mind, but you just can't pinpoint what to really use.

However, be wary that sometimes most of those ideas could really be messy and won't lead you to hit the best story yet. But at least you have somewhere to start with. This won't necessarily be a source of distraction, but more of an outlet for your unspoken thoughts to have some place to settle while you figure out how to spread them properly into one coherent storyline.

It is good for people to follow a certain security with a routine. However, too familiar situation can also hinder your productivity and might block your creative juices from coming out. Try to tweak your usual routine or move your writing space some place where you can have less distractions.

It is a good practice to bring in some small changes to your writing habit, this can also give you some fresh start to a story. It doesn't have to be a drastic change. Small steps can have gain good results. You may opt to start with your writing schedule. Write in the early morning.

In my personal experience, I figured out that I am a morning person. My brain works better in the early morning. This can also help you because this time is when your environment is still quiet and peaceful. You would want to eliminate as much noise and bother as possible, to make yourself focused.

There is no single shot in breaking free of a writer's block. The best way is to find out what best fits you and try to stick with it. Some writers prefer a more organized and clean routine, while others are a mix-and-match of different styles. No matter what happen, do not be discouraged. Also, do not be too hard on yourself.

Let the time help you and while you are at that phase of finding ways, read books, watch movies, hangout with friends. These will help you see through a different lens and might give you some ideas to use and drag you out of that dreaded writer's block.